Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-12
Smoking Among Ladies'.

A recent incidental statement made by
an authority whose opportunity of obser-
yation leaves no doubt as to its truthful
ness, discloses the fact that the practice of
smoking among American ladies is becom-
ing more and more general. The obser-
yer. who is lady of the highest standing
in New York, says: More American wo-
men smoke cigarettes, and often cigars,
than the world wots of. Only few morn
ings ago | sat in the boudoir of one of the
best-k known women in New York society,
a lady whose name is synonym for every
thing that is womanly and refined to the
outside world, while she smoked cigarette
after cigarette with the utmost pacidity.
During the morning three other ladies
dropped in, and two of them also produced
dainty cigarette-cases, and smoked with
entire composure, ejectiDg the curls of
smoke into rings above their heads as
gracefully and perfectly as the most expert
smoker among men could do. | know my
self OF scores of our best New York, Bos-
ton and Philadelphia ladies, all my per-
sonal friends, who indulge in smoking,
and whose names, if given to the public,
would cause astonishment." 1t is not
pleasant to contemplate q condition of
affairs as the above gives us excellent rea-
son to believe exists to-day among our
American women. Men smoke and why
should not women ?' many have asked.
Simply because there are thousand and
one things which, though proper in men,
are entirely unbecoming TO women. The
association of tobacco with a refined lady
is disagreeable; it is not so with the most
polished gentleman. 1t is argued by some
that in Spain, France and Turkey and
other European countries, the women all
smoke, and in public yet these same peo-
pie making this assertion have never for
themselves seen the class of women who
are addicted to this use Of tobacco In
like manner might we conduct a foreigner
to places in our great cities where women
can be found continually smoking but
could such visitor return to his native
land and declare in truthfnlness that the
American ladies smoke? We are aware
that in France especially the habit of
smoking among women is more general
than in America, but likewise are many
other habits which American mothers
would not care to associate with the lives
of their daughters or their lady friends. If
the custom of smoking among American
ladies is becoming prevalent IL is one that
cannot be otherwise than deeply deplored.
No woman-and We weigh each word in
this statement-can be lady and be ad-
dcted to smoking. The argument that
men smoke is no plausible reason for wo-
men doing so and no one possessed of any
degree of common sense will advance such
comparison. There are scores and hun
dreds of things that can be properly asso-
ciated with the more commonplace nature
of man, but when connected with the del
icate and refined nature of woman they be-
come widely dissimilar. Tobacco was IN
tended for the use of men, and while it
would be infinitely better were it not used
at all, or used in much lesser quantities
than it is at present, the cigar or cigarette
is not unbecoming to the most perfect gem
tleman. But when employed by ladies it
is put to use for which it was never in
tended and the cigar in the mouth of
woman becomes ber as much as would
costly flag of the richest satin texture if
placed on the begrimed mast of one of the
scows that rid our cities of their superfu-
Gus mud and filth.-Brooklyn Magazine.